Water-supply control for laundry machines



C. H. BOYULS WATER SUPPLY CONTROL FOR LAUNDRY MACHINES 2 Shets-Sheet 1 Filed July 5, 1924 FIG. 1.

Fla. 2.

Dec. 30, 1924. 1,520,691

C. H. BOYULS 7 WATER SU PLY CONTROL FOR LAUNDRY MACHINES Filed July 5, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG..4'. F'IG.5.

gnvcntop affouwq Patented Dec. 30, 1924.

U NIT ED" S;T AT E GEOIL-H.-BOYULS} F LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

WATER SUE'PLY CONTROL FOR LAUNDRY MACHINES.

Application filed July 3,

To. all whom it may concern:

Be it known that Cnorn H. BoYULs, citizen of the United States, residing at Louisville, in the county of Jefferson and State of Kentucky has invented certain new and useful Improvements in ater-Supply Controls'for Laundry Machines, of which the following .is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in water supply controls for laundry machines, wherein independently controlled manually operable valves are provided for regulating the flow of hot and cold water to the receptacle or tubof a laundry machine, and with auto matically operating devices associated with the valve mechanism for shut-ting olf-the supply of water to the tub at a predetermined time.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a water supply control for laundry machines of the type above'set forth,-

means for holding the valves in an open position to permit the flow of water with the automatically operating device adapted for. closing the valves when the proper amount of water has been delivered to the tub.

\Vith the above and other objects in view which will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists of the novel construction,- combination and-arrangement of parts to behereinafter more fully described and then claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and to which reference is madeby like characters designating corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1 1s a fragmentary side elevational viewof a laundry machine equipped with the water supply control,

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front elevational view,

Fig. 3 is an' enlarged fragmentary eleva tional'viewofthe water supply control valve box showing one of the valves locked in an open position,

Fig; lis a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the valve box, showing-one valve seated and the other valve elevated to its open position,

Fig. is a vertical cross sectional view taken through one side of the valve box, and

1924. Serial No. 723,991.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a portion of the automatic or float operated device for releasing the valve operated mechanism to permit restoration of the valves to a closed position.

Referring more in deail to the accompanying drawings, reference numeral 1 designates a laundry machine and particularly the receptacle or tub thereof, that is supported upon legs 2, the tub 1 having a vcate inlet pipe 3 positioned vertically adjacent a side wall thereof with the lower end of the pipe entering the lower end of the tub. A valve box 4 is supported on the upper end of the water inlet pipe 3 and has hot and cold water pipes associated therewith as well as water supply control devices for regulatr g the quantity of hot and cold water delivered to the valve box and inlet pipe.

The valve box 4c is shown in detail in Figs. 4 and 5 and embodies a casing having a horizontal partition wall 5 intermediate the upper and lower walls 6 and 7 respectively, while a vertical partition wall 8 centrally disposed between the upper wall 6 of the valve box and the partition 5 divides the upper section of the valve box into a hot water compartment9 and a cold water compartment 10. The lower end of the valve box is provided with a central opening 11 that is received on the upper end of the water inlet pipe 8 and is secured in position thereon as illustrated in Fig. 1. A

The valve mechanism includes the provision of an opening 12 formed in the tion 5 at each side of the vertical partition 8 to receive the removable valve seat 13 of cupformation as illustrated, and having a flange 14L upon its upper end that is sup-- ported on the partition 5 surrounding the openinglQ. The bottom wall of the valve seat 13 is provided with spaced openings 15 and a central tubular boss 16 projects upwardlyinto the cup-shaped valve seat for purposes to be presently described.

The upper wall=6 of the vabre box is provided with an opening 17 at each side of the vertical partition 8 and receiaed a domeshaped closurecap 18 having a peripheal flange 19 which rests upon the wall 6, while a depending sleeve member 20 carried by the cover 18 overlies the valve seat 13 and provides a guide for the ball valve 2t as illustrated; The water compartments 9 and 10 have pipe connections 22 through the side wall of the valve box through a source of supply for hot and cold water respectively.

The ball valves 21 in their closed position engage the upper end of the valve seat 13 and independent manually operable devices are associated with each ball valve to effect unseating thereof. A bracket plate 23 is secured to the outer face of the valve box 4 adjacent the lower end thereof and in line with the lower compartment 24 and carries bearing projections 25,,-tliat extend through openings in the wall of the valve box and into the compartment 24 and laterally of the vertical axis of each valve as illustrated in Fig. 4. A. shaft 26 journaled in each bearing 25 has a cam 27 fixed to the inner end thereof within the compartment and in line with the tubular bearing 16, a pin or plunger 28 vertically slidable in the bearing 16 being supported at its lower end upon the cam 27, and adapted, when the cam is elevated, to be raised into engagement with the ball valve 21 for unseating the same, as illustrated in Fig. 4. The lowering movement of each cam 27 is limited by the abutment 29 formed on the inner wall of the valve box. The shafts 26 are operated by the overbalanced handles 30 secured to the outer ends thereof, and outwardly of the valve box, as shown in Fig. 3.

The bracket plate 23 has a pair of latch levers 31 pivotally mounted as at 32 at their outer ends, supported adjacent the upper end thereof and the inner adjacent free swinging ends of the latch levers 31 carry latch faces or notches 33. Each handle 30 adjacent its mounting on the shaft 26 carries a cam lug 34 that rides upon the lower face of the adjacent latch lever 31 for elevating the same and for positioning the cam lug 34 in the latch notch 33 for holding the handle in an elevated position, as shown at the left hand side of Fig. 3, and'with the associated ball valve elevated to an unseated position to permit a continuous flow of water.

In laundry apparatus of this character, the washing and scrubbing operation of the clothes is accomplished with only two inches of water in the bottom of the tub, while the rinsing of the clothes requires ten inches of water. Automatically operating devices are associated with the water supply mechanism for shutting off the supply ofwater flowing through the inlet pipe 3 when either two or ten inches of water have been delivered to the tub such devices including a float chamber 35 supported by bracket arms 36 on the inlet pipe 3, the lower end of the float chamber 35 having a pipe connection 37 with the lower end of the tub 1, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The float 38 in the float chamber carries the vertically extending rod 39 extendingupwardly by the lower end of the latch plate adjacent therod 39, while a finger piece 47 facilitates the operation of the latch plate.

A cam arm 48 pivotally mounted as at 49 between spaced lugs 50 on the bracket plate 23'carries an outwardly directed arm 51 provided with an eye 52 at its extreme outer end, that is freely slidable on the rod 39.

In the operation of the device, the arm 51 is elevated to position the eye 52 above the latch plate lug 46 and with the upper operating end of the cam arm 48slightly spaced from the adjacent inner ends of the latch levers 31 as shown in Fig. 3.. Either of the ball valves 21 are unseated by operating the handles 30 to cause the cams 27 to elevate the pins 28 that unseat the ball valves, the latter being elevated in the tubular member 20 and the cam lug 34 of the associated valve moved into the notch 33 of the latch lever. The water will flow through the valve seats and openings 15 to the compartment 24 and pass through the inlet pipe 3 to the tub 1, a portion of the water returning through the pipe 37 to the float chamber 35 for elevating the float 38 and rod 39. The latch plate 44 elevates the arm 51 and when two inches of waterhave been delivered to the tub 1,'the cam arm 48 engages the latch levers 31 to; elevate the same and to disengage the cam lug 34 of the overbalanoed handle 30 which will lower the cam 27 and cause the seating of the ball valve 21. A partial vacuum is created in the dome shaped cap 18 and tubular member 20 which will cause a gradual seating of the ball valve 21 and will eliminate all shocks and hammering of the valve. When the tub has been drained of the wash water, and it is desired to rinse the clothes, ten inches of water are delivered to the tub, the valves being manually opened and the latch plate 44 disengaged from the eye 52 to position the eye beneath the lug 46 of the latch plate. The lug 44 ismounted on the rod 39, so that when the latter rises, the lug 40 will engage the eye 52 and elevate the arm 51 and cam arm 48 for releasing the handles 30 when ten inches of water have been delivered to the tub. WVhile it is herein stated that two inches of water are used for washing clothes, and ten inches 'for rinsing the same, it is to be understood that the amount of water employedmay be varied by adjusting the latch plate 44 and lug 40 as well as providing graduations upon the rod 39.

Lil

While there is herein shown and described the preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that minor changes may be made such as will fall within the invention as claimed.

What I claim is:

1. Means for controlling the supply of water to a laundry machine comprising in combination with a tub and a water inlet pipe associated with the lower end thereof, a valve box attached to the inlet pipe and in communication with hot and cold water supply pipes, independent manually operable valves for the hot and cold water and automatically operable means for closing the valves when the water in the tub has reached a predetermined level, each valve embodying a ball structure and an air pocket including a guide sleeve for the ball valve whereby the ball is slowly returned to its seat.

2. Means for controlling the supply of water to a laundry machine comprising in combination with a tub and a water inlet pipe associated with the lower end thereof, a valve box attached to the inlet pipe and in communication with hot and cold water supply pipes, independent manually operable valves for the hot and cold water, automatically operable means for closing the valves when the water in the tub has reached a predetermined level, each valve being cam operated, manually operable means for the cam, and devices associated with the last named means for holding the valves in open position, each valve being of the ball type and an air pocket associated with each valve to retard the return movement of the valve to its seat.

3. Means for controlling the supply of water to a laundry machine comprising in combination with a tub and a water inlet pipe associated with the lower end thereof, a valve box attached to the inlet pipe and in communication with hot and cold water supply pipes, independent manually operable valves for the hot and cold water, automatically operable means for closing the valves when the water in the tub has reached a predetermined level, each valve being cam operated, manually operable means for the cam, and devices associated with the last named means for holding the valves in open position, and said automatic means rendered operative by the rising water in the tub to release the devices and permit closing of the valves, each valve being of the ball type and an air pocket associated with each valve to retard the return movement of the valve to its seat.

4:. Means for controlling the supply of water to a laundry machine comprising in combination with a tub and a water inlet pipe associated with the lower end thereof, a valve box attached to the inlet pipe and in communication with hot and cold water supply pipes, independent manually operable valves for the hot and cold water, automatioally operable means for closing the valves when the water in the tub has reached a predetermined level, each valve being cam operated, a freely mounted pin interposed between the cam and valve, manually operable means for the cam, and devices associated with the last named means for holding the valves in open position, said valves including removable valve seats of cup-formation having a central bearing for the valve ope-rating pin and said seat having passages in the bottom wall thereof outwardly of the bearing.

5. Means for controlling the supply of water to a laundry machine comprising in combination with a tub and a water inlet pipe associated with the lower end thereof, a valve box attached to the inlet pipe and in communication with hot and cold water supply pipes, independent manually operable ball valves for the hot and cold water, automatically operable means for closing the valves when the water in the tub has reached a predetermined level, each valve being cam operated, a sliding pin interposed between each cam and ball valve manually operable means for the cam, and devices associated with the last named means for holding the valves in open position, and said automatic means rendered operative by the rising water in the tub to release the devices and permit closing of the valves, said valves including removable valve seats of cup-formation having a central bearing for the valve operating pin and said seat having passages in the bottom wall thereof outwardly of the hearing.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature.

CECIL H. BOYULS.

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